I've heard that in the Age of Sail, an exploratory trip to the far flung parts of the world could have a 50% fatality rate to scurvy. What was the mood like among the crew when a ship got such an assignment? I would have previously though jubilant, now horrified.

Whoever you heard this from is likely using Wikipedia. This specific claim has in fact arisen before, hence this post; but as always, more can always be said on the matter, so if anyone would like to speak about casualty rates due to scurvy, please go ahead and write up! We shall always welcome more posts.

For the meantime, OP, u/Superplaner addresses this specific claim, with some extra information in a later thread.